- Emotionally-Focused Therapy
- Attachment-based work
- Clinical hypnosis experience
About Darlene
Dr. Darlene Viggiano is a California licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 18 years of clinical experience. She works with relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, addiction, mood disorders, anxiety, stress, parenting strain, and issues around intimacy and communication.
She uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy along with attachment-based and client-centered approaches to help people name difficult emotions and shift unhelpful interaction patterns. She also draws on cognitive behavioral and existential ideas when they fit the concern. Sessions tend to focus on what is happening between people and what feelings lie beneath those patterns.
Her background includes a PhD in Psychology from Saybrook University and a master’s in psychology from National University. She has worked in intensive outpatient settings and has experience as a case manager and clinical lead supervisor. That work included treatment related to abuse, addiction, and dual diagnosis.
Over her career she has trained paraprofessionals and students and led workshops on Jungian and transpersonal topics. She has also authored two books about dreams and pregnancy loss. She holds certification in clinical hypnosis from the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis and has experience facilitating anger management and couples communication.
She is a member of the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. People who choose her often want help understanding attachment, repairing relationship patterns, or managing strong emotions so daily life feels more manageable.
How Emotion-Focused and Attachment Work Translate Online
Emotion-Focused Therapy helps people and couples identify the emotions that drive their interactions and then practice new ways of responding. It is often used for relationship patterns, attachment concerns, and feelings that are hard to name.Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relational patterns shape present behavior and bonds. It can help with trust issues, communication breakdowns, and reactions rooted in past relationships. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and reflection, giving the person space to make sense of their experience and decide what changes matter most.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences rather than promising a single path at the start. That exploration happens together in early sessions.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Many people find online sessions useful because they can fit therapy into a workday, avoid travel time, or use a shorter check-in when their schedule is tight. Online sessions can also make it easier to involve a partner or coordinate with other commitments while maintaining regular care.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
18+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, anxiety, depression, stress, parenting strain, and intimacy and communication issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She centers Emotionally-Focused Therapy and attachment-based ideas to identify feelings and interaction patterns, while also using client-centered listening and cognitive behavioral tools when useful.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 18 years of clinical experience and has worked in intensive outpatient programs, as a case manager, and as a clinical lead supervisor.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a California LMFT and practices from California.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.